THE STEPS IT TOOK TO RIDE THE PERFECT WAVE
A short guide to reaching your dream goal.
I had a dream.
A big one.
The kind of dream that lives deep in your chest and whispers to you when the world gets quiet. It felt like the perfect wave—glassy, green, and powerful. The one you picture when you close your eyes, the one that makes your heart ache because you want it so much.
But I didn’t know how to get there. I thought I could catch it if I could just line everything up—the right board, the right moment, the correct version of me. But that wave always felt just out of reach.
Instead, I found myself in the white water—wobbly and hesitant, trying to balance on a big foam board that looked nothing like the sleek shortboard I dreamed of riding. It was a humbling experience.
As others carved turns and danced down the line, I found myself falling on my knees, being pushed back toward the shore.
But gradually, something changed. I stopped fighting the process and began to learn. I discovered how to pop up, even if it wasn’t graceful. I learned how to paddle through the chaos, how to duck dive beneath the mess, and how to breathe when everything felt overwhelming.
Eventually, I made it past the white water and out to the lineup. That first moment of sitting on my board in still water, surrounded by seasoned surfers and sparkling waves, felt like an actual arrival.
However, this wasn’t the end; it was just the beginning of a new learning chapter. I had to earn my place in the lineup. I needed to learn how to read the ocean—where to sit, when to paddle, and which direction to take off.
The process was slow, intentional, messy, and exhilarating. Over time, I downsized my board and grew more confident. I started taking off earlier, turning more sharply and riding boldly.
One day, I looked up and realized I was there, carving across a perfect wave—doing something I had once only imagined. But here’s the truth I never expected: the magic wasn’t just in that final wave. It was in every single step that led me there.
The Truth About Goals No One Talks About
For a long time, I believed that goals were about quickly getting to a destination. You set your sights on the perfect wave and then push as hard as possible to reach it. However, surfing taught me a different lesson.
It showed me that dreams don’t materialize all at once. Instead, they unfold as you paddle through challenges. They develop in the moments you show up, even when it’s difficult—during falls, wipeouts, and the deep breaths you take before trying again.
Learning how to ride your wave begins with meeting yourself exactly where you are.
Your Journey Might Start in the White Water. That’s Not a Failure—it’s the Foundation.
Your big dream is real, but it may require you to start smaller than you anticipated. Consider getting on a larger board for better stability—you might need extra support right now. Or focus on practicing your pop-up repeatedly because it’s through repetition that you build trust in yourself. Take the time to learn how to navigate the ocean of your own life—understanding what energizes you, what drains you, and what propels you forward. This isn’t going backward; it’s the path leading you to the wave you aspire to ride.
3 Surf-Inspired Ways to Set Goals That Truly Support You
1. Choose Your Board Wisely
In life, this means selecting the tools that align with your current growth stage. You don’t need the most sophisticated system or the ideal planner; you need something that provides stability.
Try This:
Identify one area of your life where you feel a strong pull (work, health, creativity, or relationships).
Then ask yourself:
What would feel supportive, not overwhelming, for me this week?
2. Paddle Through the White Water
Yes, it’s messy. Yes, it requires effort.
But it’s also a form of strength training and resilience-building. You’re learning how to keep moving forward.
Tip:
Break your goal into small steps.
Just as you break a wave into the paddle, the pop-up, and the ride.
Don’t worry about mastering the turn—just focus on paddling for now.
3. Earn Your Place in the Lineup
This process requires patience.
You don’t simply drop into the wave of your dreams—you must build the skill, confidence, and rhythm needed to meet it when it arrives.
Try this:
Every Sunday, create a “Next Step List.”
Write down three things you’ll do—not to complete everything, but to prove to yourself, “I’m committed to this.”
This is how you earn your place: by consistently showing up for yourself, again and again.
When the Wave Comes, Ride it.
You don’t need to do it perfectly or to impress anyone; what matters is that you’re ready to start, even if you’re not entirely sure how.
That’s what this journey is all about.
Your wave is coming.
The question is: will you be there to catch it?
Do you need a board to start with? I’ve got you.
My free eBook for reconnecting with what really matters.
Inside, you’ll find journaling prompts, clarity exercises, and gentle nudges to help you figure out what you truly want—not what the world told you to want.
This self-guided workbook walks you through how actually to start taking action.
It’s honest, soulful, and built to help you move forward even when life feels murky.
You’re not behind; you’re in the process of becoming. Whether you’re just stepping into the white water or are already eyeing your next wave, I want you to know this: You’re not late; you’re right on time.
This is the season to stop standing on the shore. This is the season to paddle out.
